Rise of Empire, Vol. 2 (Riyria Revelations) (The Riyria Revelations, 2) - Softcover

J. Sullivan, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0316187704 ISBN 13: 9780316187701

Publisher: Orbit, 2011

Synopsis

The adventure continues as Royce and Hadrian aid the struggling kingdom of Melengar as it alone stands in defiance against the newly formed empire. War approaches and a desperate gamble behind enemy lines is their only chance at forming an alliance with the Nationalists to the south.

But Royce has plans of his own as he uses this opportunity to discover if an ancient wizard is using Riyria as pawns in his own bid for power. To find the truth, Royce must unravel Hadrian's hidden past. What he discovers will lead them to the end of the known world, on a journey rife with treachery and intrigue.
When author Michael J. Sullivan self-published the first books of his Riyria Revelations, they rapidly became ebook bestsellers. Now, Orbit is pleased to present the complete series for the first time in bookstores everywhere.

Rise of Empire was originally published as: Nyphron Rising and The Emerald Storm.

BOOKS IN THE RIYRIA REVELATIONS
Theft of Swords (The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha)
Rise of Empire (Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm)
Heir of Novron (Wintertide & Percepliquis)

About this title

From the Author:

In many ways, the The Riyria Revelations is the story of two rogues who become unlikely heroes as they find themselves in the midst of the political shifts in the world in which they live.  For myself, who knows the arc of the entire series, I've always considered the series to have four main protagonists: two men and two women.  

The women in Riyria take a little longer to get to center stage, but the reader is rewarded with living through the events that shape them into what they will become...strong characters who stand toe-to-toe with their male counterparts. Much of their transformation comes in Rise of Empire and it was very rewarding to see the butterflies that emerge from the cocoons of this book in the final installment, Heir of Novron. 

That's not to say that Royce and Hadrian don't have their own trials and tribulations.  The middle books are an interesting time in the friendship of Riyria.  Hadrian's growing frustration with his profession has left him melancholy and desirous of a new vocation.  As independent as Royce likes to portray himself, losing Hadrian will be his only tether to a civilized life, and he is haunted by his old rival Merrick Marius and ties to a past he would like to forget. 

Middle books are tricky things...the wonder of the world (as shown in the first books) has worn off, and the exciting conclusion is far in the distance.  How then, to make a middle book gripping and entertaining?  For me, it was using the middle books to expand beyond Royce and Hadrian and give the readers a peek into the broader implications of the events and how the world of Elan is evolving.  Also, I held back key details about our duos past, exposing their histories a bit at a time, so much of this book explores the roots of both of these fascinating men.

I do hope you will enjoy this next installment in the series.  As I mentioned in my Author's note from the first book, my intention was to escalate the tension, and deepen the mysteries with each book so by the end of this story you should be deeply invested in where the books are going.  I promise you a conclusion that will tie all the threads together and answer all the questions that Rise of Empire starts to expose.  Buckle up...it's going to be a wild ride!

Michael.

From the Inside Flap:

Works by Michael J. Sullivan NOVELS The Riyria Revelations Series

• Theft of Swords (2011 - contains The Crown Conspiracy & Avempartha)
• Rise of Empire (2011 - contains Nyphron Rising & The Emerald Storm)
• Heir of Novron (2012 - contains Wintertide & Percepliquis)

The Riyria Chronicles Series

• The Crown Tower (2013)
• The Rose and the Thorn (2013)

Standalone Novels

• Hollow World (coming April 15, 2014)
• Antithesis (release date to be determined)
• A Burden to the Earth (release date to be determined)

SHORT STORIES (Sold Individually)

• The Viscount and the Witch (2011 - Riyria Chronicles)
• Greener Grass (2012 - Dystopian Science Fiction)
• The Jester (2014 - Riyria Chronicles)

ANTHOLOGIES

• The End--Visions of Apocalypse: Burning Alexandria (2012)
• Unfettered: The Jester (2013)
• Triumph Over Tragedy: An Anthology for the Victims of Hurricane Sandy: Traditions (2013)
• Help Fund My Robot Army: New and Improved Monkey Paw (2014)

About this edition

• Publisher: Orbit
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0316187704
• ISBN 13: 9780316187701
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 816